Media Release (update)

Hawaii Police Department Detectives have identified a woman found floating near the Hilo breakwater on December 28, 2008. She has been positively identified as 56-year-old Debra Giamario of Hilo.

On Thursday, January 8, an acquaintance of Giamario’s initiated a missing person report stating that the woman had not been seen since December 25. Investigators quickly came to realize that the reported missing person was likely the woman found dead in December. The decedent’s family was notified and a family member assisted in identifying the woman.

Final autopsy findings are pending toxicology analysis.

A fisherman reported finding the body floating near the breakwater just outside Hilo Bay shortly before 11 a.m. on December 28. Hawaii Fire Department personnel airlifted the body to the Hilo pier.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call Lieutenant Mitchell Kanehailua at 961-2252 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.